BURGLARS stole a potato chipper and 40lbs of frozen chicken in two separate thefts.

The incidents, which happened in Waterfoot and Tunstead respectively, are not being linked by police.

While the owners slept, thieves forced open a small window of an outbuilding at Folly Farm in Tunstead and rifled through a large freezer before stealing the chicken breasts between July 17 and 19.

Then, burglars cut through a padlock and forced open the door of an outbuilding behind the Welcome Village Chinese Takeaway in Burnley Road East and stole the £1,000 kitchen appliance between July 20 and 21.

Sgt Mark Taylor, of Rossendale Police, said: “These incidents are bizarre.

“It’s likely the offenders want to sell the goods on.”

Anyone with information on the incidents should call 101.